AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
AI Research Scientist jobs in California represent one of the most active and competitive markets in the country, concentrated heavily in machine learning, large language models, computer vision, and reinforcement learning across the technology, biotech, and defense sectors, with openings ranging from entry-level research roles to principal scientist positions. The largest hiring metros are San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Meta, and Qualcomm maintain major research operations. California's dense ecosystem of AI-focused research labs and university partnerships keeps demand consistently strong. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 135+ AI Research Scientist jobs
About Workato
Workato delivers enterprise infrastructure for the agentic era, redefining iPaaS and helping enterprises unify data, applications, processes, and AI into a single, governed platform. A leader in Enterprise MCP and trusted by 50% of the Fortune 500, Workato’s cloud-native architecture connects every application, data source, and process to power real-time orchestration at scale. With enterprise-grade security and continuous innovation at its core, Workato provides the trusted foundation for organizations to automate with confidence and operationalize AI across the business.
Why join us?
Ultimately, Workato believes in fostering a flexible, trust-oriented culture that empowers everyone to take full ownership of their roles. We are driven by innovation and looking for team players who want to actively build our company.
But, we also believe in balancing productivity with self-care. That’s why we offer all of our employees a vibrant and dynamic work environment along with a multitude of benefits they can enjoy inside and outside of their work lives.
If this sounds right up your alley, please submit an application. We look forward to getting to know you!
Also, feel free to check out why:
- Business Insider named us an “enterprise startup to bet your career on”
- Forbes’ Cloud 100 recognized us as one of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world
- Deloitte Tech Fast 500 ranked us as the 17th fastest growing tech company in the Bay Area, and 96th in North America
- Quartz ranked us the #1 best company for remote workers
Responsibilities
We are looking for an exceptional AI Research Scientist to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible to:
- Explore workflow-aware planning, cost-optimised RAG, tool-use evaluation, and multi-agent collaboration.
- Prototype and benchmark models; present findings internally and externally.
- Collaborate with Product & Engineering to ship research-backed features.
- Contribute to open-source repos and author technical blogs.
Requirements
Qualifications / Experience / Technical Skills
- MS/PhD in Computer Science, ML, or related field—or equivalent experience.
- Hands-on with PyTorch/JAX and modern LLM frameworks.
- Strong publication record in top-tier ML venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) or demonstrable impactful experimental work; hands-on experience with large-scale model training, transformer architectures, reinforcement-learning techniques, and CUDA.
Soft Skills / Personal Characteristics
- Curiosity-driven and self-directed.
- Ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts.
- Team player who welcomes feedback and knowledge-sharing.
(REQ ID: 2124)
About Workato
Workato delivers enterprise infrastructure for the agentic era, redefining iPaaS and helping enterprises unify data, applications, processes, and AI into a single, governed platform. A leader in Enterprise MCP and trusted by 50% of the Fortune 500, Workato’s cloud-native architecture connects every application, data source, and process to power real-time orchestration at scale. With enterprise-grade security and continuous innovation at its core, Workato provides the trusted foundation for organizations to automate with confidence and operationalize AI across the business.
Why join us?
Ultimately, Workato believes in fostering a flexible, trust-oriented culture that empowers everyone to take full ownership of their roles. We are driven by innovation and looking for team players who want to actively build our company.
But, we also believe in balancing productivity with self-care. That’s why we offer all of our employees a vibrant and dynamic work environment along with a multitude of benefits they can enjoy inside and outside of their work lives.
If this sounds right up your alley, please submit an application. We look forward to getting to know you!
Also, feel free to check out why:
- Business Insider named us an “enterprise startup to bet your career on”
- Forbes’ Cloud 100 recognized us as one of the top 100 private cloud companies in the world
- Deloitte Tech Fast 500 ranked us as the 17th fastest growing tech company in the Bay Area, and 96th in North America
- Quartz ranked us the #1 best company for remote workers
Responsibilities
We are looking for an exceptional AI Research Scientist to join our growing team. In this role, you will be responsible to:
- Explore workflow-aware planning, cost-optimised RAG, tool-use evaluation, and multi-agent collaboration.
- Prototype and benchmark models; present findings internally and externally.
- Collaborate with Product & Engineering to ship research-backed features.
- Contribute to open-source repos and author technical blogs.
Requirements
Qualifications / Experience / Technical Skills
- MS/PhD in Computer Science, ML, or related field—or equivalent experience.
- Hands-on with PyTorch/JAX and modern LLM frameworks.
- Strong publication record in top-tier ML venues (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) or demonstrable impactful experimental work; hands-on experience with large-scale model training, transformer architectures, reinforcement-learning techniques, and CUDA.
Soft Skills / Personal Characteristics
- Curiosity-driven and self-directed.
- Ability to explain complex ideas to non-experts.
- Team player who welcomes feedback and knowledge-sharing.
(REQ ID: 2124)
See All 135+ AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Research Scientist JobsAI Research Scientist Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI Research Scientist Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- TikTok20
- Meta13
- ByteDance12
- NVIDIA7
- Scale AI7
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software83
- Artificial Intelligence28
- Electronics & Hardware12
- Science & Research9
- Automotive7
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI research scientist jobs across California.
- PhD or master's degree in computer science, machine learning, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated research experience with peer-reviewed publications or equivalent applied work
- Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Hands-on experience designing, training, and evaluating large-scale machine learning models
- Ability to translate research findings into production-ready systems or product improvements
- Strong communication skills for presenting technical findings to cross-functional California teams
AI Research Scientist Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an ai research scientist in California?
Most ai research scientist roles in California require at minimum a master's degree, and the majority of positions at major labs expect a PhD in computer science, statistics, or a related field. California does not issue a state license for this role. Hiring decisions hinge on research output, including published work or a strong project portfolio, combined with demonstrated programming ability. UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA, and UC San Diego are well-regarded feeder programs for California employers.
How much do AI research scientists make in California?
AI research scientists in California earn a median of about $159,100 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $88,920 for the lowest 10% to over $275,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire ai research scientists in California?
Employers hiring ai research scientists in California right now include TikTok, Meta, and ByteDance, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's concentration of major technology headquarters and dedicated AI research divisions means that both large platform companies and well-funded startups maintain consistent research hiring throughout the year.
Which California cities have the most ai research scientist jobs?
The cities with the most ai research scientist openings in California are San Jose, San Francisco, and Mountain View. The San Francisco Bay Area drives the largest share of demand because of its density of large technology headquarters and AI research labs, while Los Angeles benefits from a growing cluster of media-tech and defense-adjacent AI employers, and San Diego draws demand from biotech and semiconductor companies with active machine learning research programs.
Are there remote ai research scientist jobs in California?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 11% of ai research scientist openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting the largely desk-based and collaborative-digital nature of research work. Roles focused on modeling, analysis, and paper writing tend to be the most remote-friendly, while positions that require access to proprietary compute clusters or classified research environments are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as an ai research scientist in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a research internship or residency program while completing a graduate degree. Companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft Research operate structured research internship programs that frequently convert to full-time roles. Applicants without a PhD can target research engineer or junior research scientist titles as a stepping stone. A strong portfolio of open-source contributions, Kaggle competition placements, or preprints on arXiv demonstrably improves candidacy with California hiring teams.
Where can I find and apply to ai research scientist jobs in California?
You can find and apply to ai research scientist jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 135+ AI Research Scientist Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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